Mahsa Amini

Mahsa Amini was a 22 year old Iranian-Kurdish woman who on the 16th of September 2022, died in police custody. Morality police arrested her after Amini allegedly violated the strict Islamic dress code in Iran; wearing the hijab “improperly” (too loosely).  She shortly fell into a coma after being allegedly severely beaten according to her family and the media. The police alleged that she suffered a heart attack, but bodily symptoms showed she was bleeding from her ears and head, further declaring that she suffered severe head trauma. Ever since her death, protests across Iran have erupted with women shaving their hair, cutting their hair, and burning their hijabs in protest of Iran's modesty laws.

Protesters opposing these mandatory laws have been tear gassed, beaten, and jailed since Amini’s death. At least 18,000 civilians have been arrested since the regime, a few protesters being publicly executed. Mohsen Shekari, a 23 Iranian man was charged with “moharebeh,” which translates to waging war against God. He was accused of attacking a pro-regime militia and blocking a street, but was not given a fair trial. The second execution took place on December 15, Majid Reza Rahnavard, an Iranian who was just 23; and also convicted of “waging war against God.”  10 other people have also been sentenced to death in connection with the protests. These executions are allegedly meant to scare the protesters enough to silence them, still the Iranian civilians protest. The death toll of these citizens have reached nearly over 500, a growing number of Iran’s sports women and men being drawn out of competitions as well. Elnaz Rekabi is an Iranian rock climber who competed in the final of the Asian climbing championships in Seoul, South Korea; not wearing her hijab in protest of Amini’s death and the morality police. She was missing for some time, and after much time it was found that Rekabi was put under house arrest. The police denied having any involvement, just like the death of nine year old Kian Pirfalak. He is allegedly the youngest child that has been killed among 43 other children, state media blaming a “terrorist attack” on Pirfalak’s death. His mother instead blames security forces for his death, explaining that they “shot repeatedly” at her car, killing her son. 

The media regulation in Iran is causing dangerous manipulation of information being spread, Iranian security themselves calling the protests a “conspiracy”. Iran’s political and social ideologies are the building blocks for Iran’s media, meaning access for international journalists are limited in Iran, along with social media websites which are banned such as: Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, Twitter, and Snapchat. Despite this prohibition, Iranians are using social media regardless, resulting in many online activists, journalists, and technical staff being arrested, beaten, tortured, and even executed.

Despite the violent crimes committed by Iran’s morality police and leaders, Iranians still build up the courage and protest tirelessly against a corrupt government daily. But why did it take Amini’s death to gain such attention towards the Iranian people? If it was not for the protests being enacted during Amini’s funeral, Iran would not be facing such revolt.

Kian Pirfalak wanted to be a robotic engineer, Majid Reza Rahnavard wanted to pursue wrestling, Mohsen Shekari gave his life for freedom, Elnaz Rekabi risked her entire career to show support for Iran's call for help; and Mahsa Amini was a daughter. She was a sister and wanted to pursue her education, but like those before and after her, she fell victim to the Iranian government. Despite all of this, Amini is ultimately the symbol to all the girls, women, and citizens in Iran as something higher than the government itself. She is of the belief that one day, change will come to Iran.

Helpful sources: 

“Iran: 40 People Killed in Protests over Past Week – OHCHR | UN News.” United Nations, United Nations, https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/11/1130927. 

Esfandiari, Golnaz. “'How Could You?': Mother Blames Iranian Authorities for Killing Her 9-Year-Old Son.” RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 9 Dec. 2022, https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-9-year-old-pirfalak-killed/32137429.html. 

McGrath, Maggie. “Mahsa Amini: The Spark That Ignited a Women-Led Revolution.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 7 Dec. 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2022/12/06/mahsa-amini-the-spark-that-ignited-a-women-led-revolution/?sh=7ca0c4155c3d. 

Kashyap, Ridhi. “Who Was Mahsa Amini? Biography, Wiki, Age, Parents, Death Cause, Husband, Family & Facts.” News Unzip, 11 Dec. 2022, https://www.newsunzip.com/wiki/mahsa-amini/. 

Cloud, David S. “Who Is Mahsa Amini, and Why Did Her Death Spark Protests in Iran?” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 23 Sept. 2022, https://www.wsj.com/story/who-is-mahsa-amini-and-why-did-her-death-spark-protests-in-iran-d4236eb3.